\"Tohelpus,\"hereplied。Then,withanexplosionofnervousenergy,headded:\"Dowhatyourhearttellsyoutodo。Giveyourbedandyourclothestothewoman,andletyourgirlspitchtheirbookstothedevilforafewdaysandmakesomethingforthesepoorlittlecreaturestowear。ThepoorhaveworkedhardenoughtoclotheTHEM。Letthemtaketheirturnnowandclothethepoor。\"
\"No,no。Steady,master,\"saidtheman,steppingforwardtopropitiateMissWilson,andevidentlymuchoppressedbyasenseofunwelcomeness。\"Itain\'tanyfaultofthelady\'s。MightImakesoboldastoaskyoutoputthiswomanofmineanywherethatmaybeconvenientuntilmorning。Anysortofaplacewilldo;she\'saccustomedtoroughit。JusttohavearoofoverheruntilIfindaroominthevillagewherewecanshakedown。\"Here,ledbyhisownwordstocontemplatethefuture,helookeddesolatelyroundthecorniceofthehall,asifitwereashelfonwhichsomebodymighthaveleftasuitablelodgingforhim。
MissWilsonturnedherbackdecisivelyandcontemptuouslyonSmilash。Shehadrecoveredherself。\"Iwillkeepyourwifehere,\"
shesaidtotheman。\"Everycareshallbetakenofher。Thechildrencanstaytoo。\"
\"Threecheersformoralscience！\"criedSmilash,ecstaticallybreakingintotheoutrageousdialecthehadforgotteninhiswrath。\"Wotwasmywordstoyou,neighbor,whenIsaidweshouldbringyourmissustothecollege,andyousaid,ironical—like,\'Aye,andbloomin\'gladthey\'llbetoseeusthere。\'DidInotsaytoyouthattheladyhadanoble\'art,andwouldshowitwhenputtothetestbysechacalamityasthis？\"
\"Whyshouldyoubringmyhastywordsupagain\'menow,master,whentheladyhasbeensokind？\"saidthemanwithemotion。\"Iamhumblygratefultoyou,Miss;andsoisBess。Wearesensibleoftheill—conveniencewe——\"
MissWilson,whohadbeenconferringwiththehousekeeper,cuthisspeechshortbyorderinghimtocarryhiswifetobed,whichhedidwiththeassistanceofSmilash,nowjubilant。Whilsttheywereaway,oneoftheservants,biddentobringsomeblanketstothewoman\'sroom,refused,sayingthatshewasnotgoingtowaitonthatsortofpeople。MissWilsongaveherwarningalmostfiercelytoquitthecollegenextday。Thisexcepted,noill—willwasshowntotherefugees。Theyoungladieswerethenrequestedtoreturntobed。
Meanwhiletheman,havinglaidhiswifeinachamberpalatialincomparisonwiththatwhichthestormhadblownaboutherears,wascongratulatingheronherluck,andthreateningthechildrenwiththemostviolentchastisementiftheyfailedtobehavethemselveswithstrictproprietywhilsttheyremainedinthathouse。Beforeleavingthemhekissedhiswife;andshe,reviving,askedhimtolookatthebaby。Hedidso,andpensivelyapostrophizeditwithashockingepithetinanticipationofthetimewhenitsappetitemustbesatisfiedfromtheprovisionshopinsteadoffromitsmother\'sbreast。Shelaughedandcriedshameonhim;andsotheypartedcheerfully。WhenhereturnedtothehallwithSmilashtheyfoundtwomugsofbeerwaitingforthem。
Thegirlshadretired,andonlyMissWilsonandthehousekeeperremained。
\"Here\'syourhealth,mum,\"saidtheman,beforedrinking;\"andmayyoufindsuchanotherasyourselftohelpyouwhenyou\'reintrouble,whichLordsendmaynevercome！\"
\"Isyourhousequitedestroyed？\"saidMissWilson。\"Wherewillyouspendthenight？\"
\"Don\'tyouthinkofme,mum。MasterSmilashherewillkindlyputmeup\'tilmorning。\"
\"Hishealth！\"saidSmilash,touchingthemugwithhislips。
\"Theroofandsouthwallisbrowedrightaway,\"continuedtheman,afterpausingforamomenttopuzzleoverSmilash\'smeaning。
\"Idoubtifthere\'sastoneofitstandingbythis。\"
\"ButSirJohnwillbuilditforyouagain。Youareoneofhisherds,areyounot？\"
\"Iam,Miss。Butnothe;he\'llbegladit\'sdown。Hedon\'tlikepeoplelivin\'ontheland。Ihavetoldhimtimeandagainthattheplacewasreadytofall;buthesaidIcouldn\'texpecthimtolayoutmoneyonahousethathegotnorentfor。Yousee,Miss,Ididn\'tpayanyrent。Itooklowwages;andthebitofahutwasasortofset—offagain\'whatIwaspaidshortoftheothermen。
Icouldn\'taffordtohaveitrepaired,thoughIdidwhatIcouldtopatchandpropit。AndnowmostlikeIshallbeblamedforlettingitbeblewdown,andshallhavetoliveinhalfaroominthetownandpaytwoorthreeshillin\'saweek,besideswalkin\'
threemilestoandfrommyworkeveryday。AgentlemanlikeSirJohndon\'thardlyknowwhatthevalueofapennyistouslaborin\'folk,norhowcruelhardhisestaterulesandthelikecomesonus。\"
\"SirJohn\'shealth！\"saidSmilash,touchingthemugasbefore。
Themandrankamouthfulhumbly,andSmilashcontinued,\"Here\'stothegloriouslandedgentryofoldEngland:bless\'em！\"
\"MasterSmilashisonlyjokin\',\"saidthemanapologetically。
\"It\'shisway。\"
\"Youshouldnotbringafamilyintotheworldifyouaresopoor,\"saidMissWilsonseverely。\"Canyounotseethatyouimpoverishyourselfbydoingso——toputthematteronnohighergrounds。\"
\"ReverendMr。Malthus\'shealth！\"remarkedSmilash,repeatinghispantomime。
\"Somesayit\'sthechildren,andsomesayit\'sthedrink,Miss,\"
saidthemansubmissively。\"ButfromwhatIsee,familyornofamily,drunkorsober,thepoorgetspoorerandtherichrichereveryday。\"
\"Ain\'titdisgustin\'tohearamansoignorantoftheimprovementintheconditionofhisclass？\"saidSmilash,appealingtoMissWilson。
\"Ifyouintendtotakethismanhomewithyou,\"shesaid,turningsharplyonhim,\"youhadbetterdoitatonce。\"
\"Itakeitkindonyourpartthatyouaskmetodoanythink,afteryourupandtellingMr。WickensthatIamthelastpersoninLyvernyouwouldtrustwithajob。\"
\"Soyouare——theverylast。Whydon\'tyoudrinkyourbeer？\"
\"Notinscornofyourbrewing,lady;butbecause,bein\'acommonman,waterisgoodenoughforme。\"
\"Iwishyougood—night,Miss,\"saidtheman;\"andthankyoukindlyforBessandthechildren。\"
\"Good—night,\"shereplied,steppingasidetoavoidanysalutationfromSmilash。Buthewentuptoherandsaidinalowvoice,andwiththeTrefusismannerandaccent:
\"Good—night,MissWilson。Ifyoushouldeverbeinwantoftheservicesofadog,aman,oradomesticengineer,remindSmilashofBessandthechildren,andhewillactforyouinanyofthosecapacities。\"
Theyopenedthedoorcautiously,andfoundthatthewind,conqueredbytherain,hadabated。MissWilson\'scandle,thoughitflickeredinthedraught,wasnotextinguishedthistime;andshewaspresentlyleftwiththehousekeeper,boltingandchainingthedoor,andlisteningtothecrunchingoffeetonthegraveloutsidedyingawaythroughthesteadypatteringoftherain。
CHAPTERVII
Agathawasatthistimeinherseventeenthyear。Shehadalivelyperceptionofthefoiblesofothers,andnoreverenceforherseniors,whomshethoughtdull,cautious,andridiculouslyamenablebycommonplaces。Butshewassubjecttotheillusionwhichdisablesyouthinspiteofitssuperioritytoage。Shethoughtherselfanexception。CreditingMr。Janseniusandthegeneralmobofmankindwithnothingbutagrovellingconsciousnessofsomefewmaterialfacts,shefeltinherselfanexquisitesenseandall—embracingconceptionofnature,sharedonlybyherfavoritepoetsandheroesofromanceandhistory。
Henceshewasinthecommonyouthfulcaseofbeingamuchbetterjudgeofotherpeople\'saffairsthanofherown。Atthefellow—studentwhoadoredsomeHenryorAugustus,notfromthedrivellingsentimentalitywhichtheworldcallslove,butbecausethisparticularHenryorAugustuswasaphoenixtowhomthelawsthatgoverntherelationsofordinaryladsandlassesdidnotapply,Agathalaughedinhersleeve。Themoreshesawofthisweaknessinherfellows,themoresatisfiedshewasthat,beingforewarned,shewasalsoforearmedagainstanattackofitonherself,muchasifadoctorweretoconcludethathecouldnotcatchsmallpoxbecausehehadseenmanycasesofit;orasifamastermariner,knowingthatmanyshipsarewreckedintheBritishchannel,shouldventuretherewithoutapilot,thinkingthatheknewitsperilstoowelltorunanyriskofthem。Yet,asthedoctormightholdsuchanopinionifhebelievedhimselftobeconstituteddifferentlyfromordinarymen;ortheshipmasteradoptsuchacourseundertheimpressionthathisvesselwasastar,Agathafoundfalsesecurityinthesubjectivedifferencebetweenherfellowsseenfromwithoutandherselfknownfromwithin。When,forinstance,shefellinlovewithMr。JeffersonSmilash（astepuponwhichsheresolvedthedayafterthestorm）,herimaginationinvestedthepleasingemotionwithasacrednesswhich,toher,setitfarapartanddistinctfromthefrivolousfanciesofwhichHenryandAugustushadbeenthesubject,andshetheconfidant。
\"Icanlookathimquitecoollyanddispassionately,\"shesaidtoherself。\"Thoughhisfacehasastrangeinfluencethatmust,I
know,correspondtosomeunexplainedpowerwithinme,yetitisnotaperfectface。Ihaveseenmanymenwhoare,strictlyspeaking,farhandsomer。Ifthelightthatneverwasonseaorlandisinhiseyes,yettheyarenotprettyeyes——nothalfsoclearasmine。Thoughhewearshiscommonclotheswithanamelessgracethatbetrayshistruebreedingateverystep,yetheisnottall,dark,andmelancholy,asmyidealherowouldbeifIwereasgreatafoolasgirlsofmyageusuallyare。IfIaminlove,Ihavesenseenoughnottoletmyloveblindmyjudgment。\"
Shedidnottellanyoneofhernewinterestinlife。Strongestinthatstudentcommunity,shehadusedherpowerwithgood—natureenoughtowinthepopularityofaschoolleader,andoccasionallywithunscrupulousnessenoughtosecuretheprivilegesofaschoolbully。Popularityandprivilege,however,onlysatisfiedherwhenshewasinthemoodforthem。Girls,likemen,wanttobepetted,pitied,andmademuchof,whentheyarediffident,inlowspirits,orinunrequitedlove。Theseareserviceswhichtheweakcannotrendertothestrongandwhichthestrongwillnotrendertotheweak,exceptwhenthereisalsoadifferenceofsex。
Agathaknewbyexperiencethatthoughaweakwomancannotunderstandwhyherstrongersistershouldwishtoleanuponher,shemaytriumphinthefactwithoutunderstandingit,andgivechaffinsteadofconsolation。Agathawantedtobeunderstoodandnottobechaffed。Findingherselfunabletosatisfyboththeseconditions,sheresolvedtodowithoutsympathyandtoholdhertongue。Shehadoftenhadtodosobefore,andshewashelpedonthisoccasionbyasenseoftheridiculousappearanceherpassionmightwearinthevulgareye。Hersecretkeptitself,asshewassupposedinthecollegetobeinsensibletothesofteremotions。
Lovewroughtnoexternalchangeuponher。Itmadeherbelievethatshehadlefthergirlhoodbehindherandwasnowawomanwithanewly—developedheartcapacityatwhichshewouldchildishlyhavescoffedalittlewhilebefore。Shefeltashamedofthebeeonthewindowpane,althoughitsomehowbuzzedasfrequentlyasbeforeinspiteofher。Hercalendar,formerlyamonotonouscycleofclasstimes,mealtimes,playtimes,andbedtime,wasnowirregularlydividedbywalkspastthechaletandaccidentalglimpsesofitstenant。
EarlyinDecembercameablackfrost,andnavigationonthecanalwassuspended。Wickens\'sboywassenttothecollegewithnewsthatWickens\'spondwouldbear,andthattheyoungladiesshouldbewelcomeatanytime。Thepondwasonlyfourfeetdeep,andasMissWilsonsetmuchstorebythephysicaleducationofherpupils,leavewasgivenforskating。Agatha,whowasexpertontheice,immediatelyproposedthataselectpartyshouldgooutbeforebreakfastnextmorning。Actionsnotinthemselvesvirtuousoftenappearsowhenperformedathoursthatcompelearlyrising,andsomeofthecandidatesfortheCambridgeLocal,whowouldnothavesacrificedtheafternoontoamusement,atoncefellinwithhersuggestion。Butforthemitmightneverhavebeencarriedout;forwhentheysummonedAgatha,athalf—pastsixnextmorning,toleaveherwarmbedandbravethebitingair,shewouldhaverefusedwithouthesitationhadshenotbeenshamedintocompliancebytheselaboriousoneswhostoodbyherbedside,blue—nosedandhungry,butreadyfortheice。Whenshehaddressedherselfwithmuchshudderingandchattering,theyallayedtheirinternaldiscomfortbyaslendermealofbiscuits,gottheirskates,andwentoutacrosstherimymeadows,pastpatientcowsbreathingcloudsofsteam,toWickens\'spond。Here,totheirsurprise,wasSmilash,onelectro—platedacmeskates,practicingcomplicatedfigureswithintensediligence。Itsoonappearedthathisskillcameshortofhisambition;for,afterseveralnarrowescapesandsomefranticstaggering,hiscalves,elbows,andocciputsmotetheicealmostsimultaneously。Onrisingruefullytoasittingposturehebecameawarethateightyoungladieswerewatchinghisproceedingswithinterest。
\"Thiscomesofacommonmanputtinghimselfabovehisstationbygettingintogentlemen\'sskates,\"hesaid。\"HadIbeencontentwithahumbleslide,asmyfatherswas,Ishouldha\'beenahappiermanatthepresentmoment。\"Hesighed,rose,touchedhishattoMissWard,andtookoffhisskates,adding:\"Good—morning,Miss。MissWilsonsentmewordtobeheresharpatsixtoputontheyoungladies\'skates,andItookthelibertyoftryingafigureortwotokeepoutthecold。\"
\"MissWilsondidnottellmethatsheorderedyoutocome,\"saidMissWard。
\"Justlikehertobethoughtfulandyetnotletontobe！Sheisakindlady,andalearned——likeyourself,Miss。Sityourselfdownonthecamp—stool。andgivemeyourheel,ifImaybesoboldastostickagimletintoit。\"
Hisassistancewaswelcome,andMissWardallowedhimtoputonherskates。ShewasaCanadian,andcouldskatewell。Jane,thefirsttofollowher,wasanxiousastothestrengthoftheice;
butwhenreassured,sheacquittedherselfadmirably,forshewasproficientinoutdoorexercises,andhadthesatisfactionoflaughinginthefieldatthosewholaughedatherinthestudy。
Agatha,contrarytohercustom,gavewaytohercompanions,andherbootswerethelastuponwhichSmilashoperated。
\"Howd\'youdo,MissWylie？\"hesaid,droppingtheSmilashmannernowthattherestwereoutofearshot。
\"Iamverywell,thankyou,\"saidAgatha,shyandconstrained。
Thisphaseofherbeingnewtohim,hepausedwithherheelinhishandandlookedupathercuriously。Shecollectedherself,returnedhisgazesteadily,andsaid:\"HowdidMissWilsonsendyouwordtocome？Sheonlyknewofourpartyathalf—pastninelastnight。\"
\"MissWilsondidnotsendforme。\"
\"ButyouhavejusttoldMissWardthatshedid。\"
\"Yes。IfinditnecessarytotellalmostasmanyliesnowthatI
amasimplelaborerasIdidwhenIwasagentleman。More,infact。\"
\"Ishallknowhowmuchtobelieveofwhatyousayinthefuture。\"
\"Thetruthisthis。Iamperhapstheworstskaterintheworld,andtherefore,accordingtoanaturallaw,Icovetthefaintestdistinctionontheicemorethanimmortalfameforthethingsinwhichnaturehasgivenmeaptitudetoexcel。Ienvythatlargefriendofyours——Janeishername,Ithink——morethanIenvyPlato。Icamedownherethismorning,thinkingthattheskatingworldwasalla—bed,topracticeinsecret。\"
\"Iamgladwecaughtyouatit,\"saidAgathamaliciously,forhewasdisappointingher。Shewantedhimtobeheroicinhisconversation;andhewouldnot。
\"Isupposeso,\"hereplied。\"IhaveobservedthatWoman\'sdearestdelightistowoundMan\'sself—conceit,thoughMan\'sdearestdelightistogratifyhers。ThereisatleastonecreaturelowerthanMan。Now,offwithyou。ShallIholdyouuntilyouranklesgetfirm？\"
\"Thankyou,\"shesaid,disgusted:\"_I_canskateprettywell,andIdon\'tthinkyoucouldgivemeanyusefulassistance。\"Andshewentoffcautiously,feelingthatamishapwouldbeverydisgracefulaftersuchaspeech。
Hestoodontheshore,listeningtothegrinding,swayingsoundoftheskates,andwatchingthegrowingcomplexityofthecurvestheywereengravingontheice。Asthegirlsgrewwarmandaccustomedtotheexercisetheylaughed,jested,screamedrecklesslywhentheycameintocollision,andsailedbeforethewinddownthewholelengthofthepondatperilousspeed。Themoreanimatedtheybecame,thegloomierlookedSmilash。\"Nottwo—penn\'orthofchoicebetweenthemandaparcelofpuppies,\"hesaid;\"exceptthatsomeofthemareconsciousthatthereisamanlookingatthem,althoughheisonlyablackguardlaborer。TheyremindmeofHenriettainahundredways。WouldIlaugh,now,ifthewholesheetoficeweretoburstintolittlebitsunderthem？\"
Justthentheicecrackedwithastartlingreport,andtheskaters,exceptJane,skimmedawayinalldirections。
\"Youarebreakingtheicetopieces,Jane,\"saidAgatha,callingfromasafedistance。\"Howcanyouexpectittobearyourweight？\"
\"Packoffools！\"retortedJaneindignantly。\"Thenoiseonlyshowshowstrongitis。\"
TheshockwhichthereporthadgivenSmilashansweredhimhisquestion。\"Makeanotethatwishesforthedestructionofthehumanrace,howeverrationalandsincere,arecontrarytonature,\"hesaid,recoveringhisspirits。\"Besides,whatapreciousfoolIshouldbeifIwereworkingataninternationalassociationofcreaturesonlyfitfordestruction！Hi,lady！Oneword,Miss！\"ThiswastoMissWard,whohadskatedintohisneighborhood。\"Itbein\'acoldmorning,andmehavin\'apoorandcommoncirculation,woulditbelookedonasalibertyifIwastocutaslidehereortakeaturninthecorneralltomyself？\"
\"Youmayskateoverthereifyouwish,\"shesaid,afterapauseforconsideration,pointingtoadesertedspotattheleewardendofthepond,wheretheicewastooroughforcomfortableskating。
\"Noblyspoke！\"hecried,withagrin,hurryingtotheplaceindicated,where,skatingbeingoutofthequestion,hemadeapairofslides,andgravelyexercisedhimselfuponthemuntilhisfaceglowedandhisfingerstingledinthefrostyair。Thetimepassedquickly;whenMissWardsentforhimtotakeoffherskatestherewasageneralgroananddeclarationthatitcouldnotpossiblybehalf—pasteighto\'clockyet。Smilashkneltbeforethecamp—stool,andwaspresentlybusyunbucklingandunscrewing。
WhenJane\'sturncame,thecamp—stoolcreakedbeneathherweight。
Agathaagainremonstratedwithher,butimmediatelyreproachedherselfwithflippancybeforeSmilash,towhomshewishedtoconveyanimpressionofdeepseriousnessofcharacter。
\"Smallestfootofthelot,\"hesaidcritically,holdingJane\'sfootbetweenhisfingerandthumbasifitwereanarttreasurewhichhehadbeeninvitedtoexamine。\"Andbelongingtothefinestbuiltlady。\"
Janesnatchedawayherfoot,blushed,andsaid:
\"Indeed！Whatnext,Iwonder？\"
\"T\'other\'unnext,\"hesaid,settingtoworkontheremainingskate。Whenitwasoff,helookedupather,andshedartedaglanceathimassherosewhichshowedthathiscompliment（herfeetwere,infact,smallandpretty）wasappreciated。
\"Allowme,Miss,\"hesaidtoGertrude,whowasstandingononeleg,leaningonAgatha,andtakingoffherownskates。
\"No,thankyou,\"shesaidcoldly。\"Idon\'tneedyourassistance。\"
\"Iamwellawarethattheofferwasoverbold,\"hereplied,withaself—complacencythatmadehisprofessionofhumilityexasperating。\"Ifalltheskatesisoff,Iwill,byMissWilson\'sorder,carrythemandthecamp—stoolbacktothecollege。\"
MissWardhandedhimherskatesandturnedaway。GertrudeplacedhersonthestoolandwentwithMissWard。Therestfollowed,leavinghimtostareattheheapofskatesandconsiderhowheshouldcarrythem。Hecouldthinkofnobetterplanthantointerlacethestrapsandhangtheminachainoverhisshoulder。
Bythetimehehaddonethistheyoungladieswereoutofsight,andhisintentionofenjoyingtheirsocietyduringthereturntothecollegewasdefeated。Theyhadenteredthebuildinglongbeforehecameinsightofit。
Somewhatoutofconceitwithhisfolly,hewenttotheservants\'
entranceandrangthebellthere。Whenthedoorwasopened,hesawMissWardstandingbehindthemaidwhoadmittedhim。
\"Oh,\"shesaid,lookingatthestringofskatesasifshehadhardlyexpectedtoseethemagain,\"soyouhavebroughtourthingsback？\"
\"Suchweremyinstructions,\"hesaid,takenabackbyhermanner。
\"Youhadnoinstructions。Whatdoyoumeanbygettingourskatesintoyourchargeunderfalsepretences？Iwasabouttosendthepolicetotakethemfromyou。Howdareyoutellmethatyouweresenttowaitonme,whenyouknowverywellthatyouwerenothingofthesort？\"
\"Icouldn\'thelpit,Miss,\"herepliedsubmissively。\"Iamanaturalbornliar——alwayswas。Iknowthatitmustappeardreadfultoyouthatnevertoldalie,anddon\'thardlyknowwhatalieis,belongingasyoudotoaclasswherenoneisevertold。
Butcommonpeoplelikemetellsliesjustasaduckswims。Iaskyourpardon,Miss,mosthumble,andIhopetheyoungladies\'llbeabletotellonesetofskatesfromt\'other;forI\'mblestifI
can。\"
\"Putthemdown。MissWilsonwishestospeaktoyoubeforeyougo。
Susan,showhimtheway。\"
\"Hopeyouain\'tbeenandgotapoorcoveintotrouble,Miss？\"
\"MissWilsonknowshowyouhavebehaved。\"
HesmiledatherbenevolentlyandfollowedSusanupstairs。OntheirwaytheymetJane,whostoleaglanceathim,andwasabouttopassby,whenhesaid:
\"Won\'tyousayawordtoMissWilsonforapoorcommonfellow,honoredyounglady？Ihavegotintodreadfultroubleforhavingmadeboldtoassistyouthismorning。\"
\"Youneedn\'tgiveyourselfthepainstotalklikethat,\"repliedJaneinanimpetuouswhisper。\"Weallknowthatyou\'reonlypretending。\"
\"Well,youcanguessmymotive,\"hewhispered,lookingtenderlyather。
\"Suchstuffandnonsense！Ineverheardofsuchathinginmylife,\"saidJane,andranaway,plainlyunderstandingthathehaddisguisedhimselfinordertoobtainadmissiontothecollegeandenjoythehappinessoflookingather。
\"CursedfoolthatIam！\"hesaidtohimself;\"Icannotactlikearationalcreatureforfiveconsecutiveminutes。\"
Theservantledhimtothestudyandannounced,\"Theman,ifyouplease,ma\'am。\"
\"JeffSmilash,\"headdedinexplanation。
\"Comein,\"saidMissWilsonsternly。
Hewentin,andmetthedeterminedfrownwhichshecastonhimfromherseatbehindthewritingtable,bysayingcourteously:
\"Good—morning,MissWilson。\"
Shebentforwardinvoluntarily,asiftoreceiveagentleman。
Thenshecheckedherselfandlookedimplacable。
\"Ihavetoapologize,\"hesaid,\"formakinguseofyournameunwarrantablythismorning——tellingalie,infact。Ihappenedtobeskatingwhentheyoungladiescamedown,andastheyneededsomeassistancewhichtheywouldhardlyhaveacceptedfromacommonman——excusemyborrowingthattiresomeexpressionfromouracquaintanceSmilash——Isettheirmindsateasebysayingthatyouhadsentforme。Otherwise,asyouhavegivenmeabadcharacter——thoughnotworsethanIdeserve——theywouldprobablyhaverefusedtoemployme,oratleastIshouldhavebeencompelledtoacceptpayment,whichI,ofcourse,donotneed。\"
MissWilsonaffectedsurprise。\"Idonotunderstandyou,\"shesaid。
\"Notaltogether,\"hesaidsmiling。\"ButyouunderstandthatIamwhatiscalledagentleman。\"
\"No。ThegentlemenwithwhomIamconversantdonotdressasyoudress,norspeakasyouspeak,noractasyouact。\"
Helookedather,andhercountenanceconfirmedthehostilityofhertone。HeinstantlyrelapsedintoanaggravatedphaseofSmilash。
\"Iwillnolongerattempttosetmyselfupasagentleman,\"hesaid。\"Iamacommonman,andyourladyship\'shirecognizesmeassuchandisnottobedeceived。Butdon\'tgofortosaythatIamnotcandidwhenIamascandidaseveryouwillletmebe。Whatfault,ifany,doyoufindwithmyputtingtheskatesontheyoungladies,andcarryin\'thecampstoolforthem？\"
\"Ifyouareagentleman,\"saidMissWilson,reddening,\"yourconductinpersistingintheseanticsinmypresenceisinsultingtome。Extremelyso。\"
\"MissWilson,\"hereplied,unruffled,\"ifyouinsistonSmilash,youshallhaveSmilash;Itakeaninsanepleasureinpersonatinghim。IfyouwantSidney——myrealChristianname——youcancommandhim。Butallowmetosaythatyoumusthaveeitheroneortheother。Ifyoubecomefrankwithme,IwillunderstandthatyouareaddressingSidney。Ifdistantandsevere,Smilash。\"
\"Nomatterwhatyournamemaybe,\"saidMissWilson,muchannoyed,\"Iforbidyoutocomehereortoholdanycommunicationwhateverwiththeyoungladiesinmycharge。\"
\"Why？\"
\"BecauseIchoose。\"
\"Thereismuchforceinthatreason,MissWilson;butitisnotmoralforceinthesenseconveyedbyyourcollegeprospectus,whichIhavereadwithgreatinterest。\"
MissWilson,sinceherquarrelwithAgatha,hadbeensoreonthesubjectofmoralforce。\"Nooneisadmittedhere,\"shesaid,\"withoutatrustworthyintroductionorrecommendation。Adisguiseisnotasatisfactorysubstituteforeither。\"
\"Disguisesaregenerallyassumedforthepurposeofconcealingcrime,\"heremarkedsententiously。
\"Preciselyso,\"shesaidemphatically。
\"Therefore,Ibear,tosaytheleast,adoubtfulcharacter。
Nevertheless,Ihaveformedwithsomeofthestudentshereaslightacquaintance,ofwhich,itseems,youdisapprove。YouhavegivenmenogoodreasonwhyIshoulddiscontinuethatacquaintance,andyoucannotcontrolmeexceptbyyourwish——asortofinfluencenotusuallyeffectivewithdoubtfulcharacters。
SupposeIdisregardyourwish,andthatoneortwoofyourpupilscometoyouandsay:\'MissWilson,inouropinionSmilashisanexcellentfellow;wefindhisconversationmostimproving。Asitisyourprincipletoallowustoexerciseourownjudgment,weintendtocultivatetheacquaintanceofSmilash。\'Howwillyouactinthatcase？\"
\"Sendthemhometotheirparentsatonce。\"
\"IseethatyourprinciplesarethoseoftheChurchofEngland。
Youallowthestudentstherightofprivatejudgmentonconditionthattheyarriveatthesameconclusionsasyou。ExcusemysayingthattheprinciplesoftheChurchofEngland,howeverexcellent,arenotthoseyourprospectusledmetohopefor。Yourplaniscoercion,starkandsimple。\"
\"Idonotadmitit,\"saidMissWilson,readytoargue,evenwithSmilash,indefenceofhersystem。\"Thegirlsarequiteatlibertytoactastheyplease,butIreservemyequallibertytoexcludethemfrommycollegeifIdonotapproveoftheirbehavior。\"
\"Justso。Inmostschoolschildrenareperfectlyatlibertytolearntheirlessonsornot,justastheyplease;buttheprincipalreservesanequallibertytowhipthemiftheycannotrepeattheirtasks。\"
\"Idonotwhipmypupils,\"saidMissWilsonindignantly。\"Thecomparisonisanoutrage。\"
\"Butyouexpelthem;and,astheyaredevotedtoyouandtotheplace,expulsionisadreadedpunishment。Yoursistheoldsystemofmakinglawsandenforcingthembypenalties,andthesuperiorityofAltonCollegetoothercollegesisdue,nottoanydifferenceofsystem,buttothecomparativereasonablenessofitslawsandthemildnessandjudgmentwithwhichtheyareenforced。\"
\"Mysystemisradicallydifferentfromtheoldone。However,I
willnotdiscussthematterwithyou。Amindoccupiedwiththeprejudicesoftheoldcoercivedespotismcannaturallyonlyseeinthenewamodificationoftheold,insteadof,asmysystemis,anentirereversalorabandonmentofit。\"
Heshookhisheadsadlyandsaid:\"Youseektoimposeyourideasonothers,ostracizingthosewhorejectthem。Believeme,mankindhasbeendoingnothingelseeversinceitbegantopaysomeattentiontoideas。Ithasbeensaidthatabenevolentdespotismisthebestpossibleformofgovernment。Idonotbelievethatsaying,becauseIbelieveanotheronetotheeffectthathellispavedwithbenevolence,whichmostpeople,theproverbbeingtoodeepforthem,misinterpretasunfulfilledintentions。Asifabenevolentdespotmightnotbyanyerrorofjudgmentdestroyhiskingdom,andthensay,likeRomeowhenhegothisfriendkilled,\'Ithoughtallforthebest！\'Excusemyrambling。Imeanttosay,inshort,thatthoughyouarebenevolentandjudiciousyouarenonethelessadespot。\"